Children’s Mercy Appoints Michelle Wimes to Chief People Officer

Children’s Mercy announced Dr. Michelle Wimes has been appointed as the permanent Chief People Officer. FILE PHOTO.

Posted October 20, 2025

Children’s Mercy has appointed Dr. Michelle Wimes as the hospital’s permanent chief people officer.

Wimes will assume the role, effective immediately, according to a Monday release. Wimes first stepped into a interim role in July following Tom Wright’s, former chief human resources officer for Children’s Mercy, decision to retire. She also previously served as the organization as senior vice president and chief equity and inclusion officer for five years.

“At Children’s Mercy, everything they do is for the children and families they serve—and that includes attracting, retaining, developing and empowering the incredible people who make it all possible,” Wright said in the release.

Before joining Children’s Mercy 2020, Wimes worked at the employment law firm Ogletree Deakins as chief diversity and professional development officer. She also served as the director of strategic initiatives at Kansas City-based Shook, Hardy & Bacon as well as working a a partner with Spencer Fane.

She holds a J.D. degree from Tulane Law School, completed graduate studies at the University of Seville in Spain, and earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Missouri in Communication Arts and Spanish Language and Literature.

“Her ability to build authentic connections across our workforce, patient families and community partners has made her a trusted voice and a powerful agent of change,” president and CEO of Children’s Mercy, Dr. Alejandro Quiroga, said in the release. “Michelle has already redefined how we think about people and purpose, and we are thrilled to see her step into this role permanently.”